Mayhem and Madness Ensue

But it's all for Mak!!1

I just joked to a friend that Mike and I might kill each other before we get to Russia!  Planning this trip on this short notice is quite stressful.  At the end of the day, though, we look at Mak's picture and know that it is worth it.

It has been difficult trying to figure out our timeline.  The reps from CHOC speak Russian as a first language so sometimes their emails can be confusing to understand.  We have to make sure to keep asking the same questions to ensure the same answers and I have also started to sum up the 'what I understands' and having her correct them as necessary.

After four business days of, what feels like, millions of emails a day I have succeeded in figuring out the following (it has her answers tacked onto the ends of the statements):

1. Leave Canada on the 21st to allow for weather related delays. OK

 

2. Land in Moscow and stay in hotel until morning of 24th.  Are we able to have a rep meet us and take us to our hotel? OK, I just got the updated price list for the services of our reps in Moscow , I attached it hereby.

 

3. Morning of the 24th fly to UFA .  Again, are we able to have someone take us from the hotel to the airport? Yes

 

4. Be picked up at airport by a driver and taken to meeting at MoE at 1pm. In Ufa our reps will meet you and take to MOE

 

5. After meeting have driver take us to orphanage. Our reps will go with you.

 

6. Stay the night of 24th with host family. Yes. From 24^th till early morning of 27^th

 

7. On the 25th, spend day at orphanage.  Is this when we have the DMP check out the child? You will have DMP on 24^th or on 25^th . Our reps will inform you once they meet you in Ufa .

 

8. Stay the night of the 25th with host family. Yes

 

9. Spend the 26th at the orphanage and stay the night with host family again. Yes

 

10. On the 27th, have a driver take us to Ufa and fly to Moscow early in the morning. Yes

 

11. Have a rep meet us at the airport and take us to the clinic for specialist appointments. Yes

 

12. Stay the night in a hotel in Moscow. Hotel has to be in downtown Moscoe. Please check with us the location before booking it

 

13. On the 28th, do we go to the clinic again? Yes

 

14. Stay the night in a hotel in Moscow.Yes

 

15. On the 29th, have a driver take us to the airport and fly to Canada ? Yes

 Wowza!
It took awhile but I nailed it down last night and got these confirmations.  Now we can look more seriously at booking flights and hotels because we have dates.  

We have also spent time getting the last half of the Russian fees in order and mailed off.  Mike, thankfully, tackled the opening of a USD bank account, getting and mailing the appropriate cheques and drafts.  CHOC then mails us back an amount that is to be signed over to their Rep in Ufa.  This is where some hostility erupted... I'm over it now but it was just one of those details that was obvious to me but not to him.  This, I told him, is why I get nervous relinquishing control of aspects to him.  He has also helped us secure dog care while we are gone (thanks to I&D or J!) and having someone clear our massive amounts of sidewalks if it snows while we are gone (thanks so much K!)

We will do our best to show all of our appreciation for everything!  I already felt so much joy telling all of our references the good news that they helped produce!  I also went shopping today to pick up gifts for our host family, translator, driver while in Russia.  Just cute items that transcend language barriers!

I also picked up birthday cards for those who celebrate while we are gone; Christmas gifts for the kids which need to be mailed before we leave; Covering my shifts at work, since I was supposed to work Christmas; and getting a doc appointment to renew my prescriptions that run out while we are away and ensuring that Mak has a place in his clientele when we return.

That is all as of now... (I feel like that last sentiment is a HUGE downplay on what the ALL is).

And while this is all going on, the play opens tomorrow night and I have five shows a week until four days before I stop work LOL!

Man, I love his chestnut eyes and sweet little mouth!  He WILL know how much excitement is drummed up around him!  Those efforts are another post for another day!